Recycling is one of the simplest ways we can all help reduce waste and protect the environment. However, recycling only works well when the right materials are placed in the right bins.

Rinse, Empty and Dry

Before putting items into your recycling bin, please make sure they are empty, rinsed, and dry. Food and drink residue can contaminate other recyclable materials, making them harder to process and reducing the quality of recycling collected across the district.

A quick rinse of bottles, cans, tubs and jars can make a big difference.

Tissues Belong in General Waste

Used tissues should always be placed in your general waste bin. Tissues cannot be recycled because the fibres are too short and they are often contaminated after use.

Keep Greasy Packaging Out of Recycling

Cardboard and paper are widely recyclable, but only when they are clean. Greasy pizza boxes, food-covered takeaway containers, and cardboard contaminated with oil or food should be placed in your general waste bin.

If part of a cardboard box is clean, you can tear off the clean section and recycle it, placing only the contaminated portion in general waste.

Soft Plastics: Not for Recycling Bin

Soft plastics such as:

• Crisp packets
• Biscuit wrappers
• Sweet wrappers
• Bread bags
• Plastic film and food packaging

cannot currently be recycled through household recycling collections in Mole Valley. These items should not be placed in your recycling bin.

Instead, residents can take soft plastics to participating supermarkets for recycling:

• Sainsbury’s, Dorking High Street has a large soft plastic recycling container at the rear of the store.
• Waitrose, Dorking has a smaller soft plastic recycling bin near Customer Services at the rear of the store.

If you are unable to take soft plastics to a collection point, they should be placed in your general waste bin.